Crohn's disease in the Jewish population of Tel-Aviv-Yafo. Epidemiologic and clinical aspects.

A survey of the incidence and prevalence of Crohn's disease in the Jewish population of Tel-Aviv-Yafo was carried out from 1970 to 1976. The annual incidence rate was 1.28, and the prevalence was 12.31 per 10(5) population. The prevalence of 16.69 per 10(5) population among Ashkenazi jews was significantly higher than that found in "non-Ashkenazi" Jews, 4.19 per 10(5) population. Even so, Crohn's disease is significantly less common in Tel-Aviv than outside Israel, according to most recently published surveys. Similarly, the complication, surgery, and mortality rate are less marked than those reported from other studies. These figures confirm the authors' impression that inflammatory bowel disease in general is less common and possible less severe in Tel-Aviv than in the United State and Western Europe. The strikingly higher prevalence in the Ashkenazi community, especially in the Israeli-born population, suggests a hereditary predisposition. The apparent differences among Askhenazi Jews in various parts of the world may relate to environmental factors.